Method and means of applying additives to industrial gas

ABSTRACT

The means for applying additives to industrial gas comprises a fitting closing the open upper end of a container and having a chamber formed therein. An industrial gas additive is provided in the container and a source of fuel gas is in communication with the interior of the container. A first conduit extends from the chamber to a torch means. A first dip tube has its upper end in communication with the chamber and extends downwardly into the container. The first dip tube has a plurality of openings formed therein below its upper end which is in communication with the interior of the container. A plurality of second dip tubes have their upper ends in communication with the chamber and extend downwardly into the container. The second dip tubes have a plurality of openings formed therein below their upper ends which are in communication with the interior of the container. A poppet valve is provided in the upper end of each of the second dip tubes and is opened by the existence of a pressure differential in the chamber. A float valve is provided in the conduit extending between the interior of the container and the source of fuel gas which is closed upon the industrial gas reaching a predetermined level within the container. The fuel gas is supplied into the upper end of the container which causes the industrial gas to be forced upwardly in and through the dip tubes and to at least partially pass outwardly from the openings provided in the dip tubes. The fuel gas enters the openings formed in the dip tubes and mingles or mixes with the industrial gas. The mixture then enters the chambers formed in the fitting and is fed to a cutting torch or the like. The second dip tubes are utilized when a plurality of cutting torches are placed in communication with the chamber.

llnie States Etter atent 1 1 1 METHOD AND MEANS OF APPLYING ADDITIVES T0 INDUSTRIAL GAS [76] Inventor: Berwyne E. Etter, 10355 Paradise Blvd., Treasure Island, Fla. 33740 [22] Filed: Jan. 16, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 433,800

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 295,133, Oct. 5, 1972,

I abandoned.

[52] US. Cl 1.37/209, 239/372, 261/65, 431/4, 43l/D1G. 29

[51] int. Cl. F04f l/l8 [58] Field of Search 137/110, 209, 512.1;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,305,997 6/1919 Fortney l37/5l2.1 1,899,262 2/1933 Davis 239/372 1,938,036 12/1933 Martin et al. 222/4 2,017,767 10/1935 Norman 137/209 2,112,575 3/1938 Richard 137/209 2,604,899 7/1952 Fitzgibbons 137/110 Primary E.raminer-Alan Cohan Assistant Examiner-Gerald A. Michalsky Attorney, Agent, or FirmZarley, McKee, Thomte & Voorhees [57] ABSTRACT The means for applying additives to industrial gas comprises a fitting closing the open upper end of a container and having a chamber formed therein. An industrial gas additive is provided in the container and a source of fuel gas is in communication with the interior of the container. A first conduit extends from the chamber to a torch means. A first dip tube has its upper end in communication with the chamber and extends downwardly into the container. The first dip tube has a plurality of openings formed therein below its upper end which is in communication with the interior of the container. A plurality of second dip tubes have their upper ends in communication with the chamber and extend downwardly into the container. The second dip tubes have a plurality of openings formed therein below their upper ends which are in communication with the interior of the container. A poppet valve is provided in the upper end of each of the second dip tubes and is opened by the existence of a pressure differential in the chamber. A float valve is provided in the conduit extending between the interior of the container and the source of fuel gas which is closed upon the industrial gas reaching a predetermined level within the container. The fuel gas is supplied into the upper end of the container which causes the industrial gas to be forced upwardly in and through the dip tubes and to at least partially pass outwardly from the openings provided in the dip tubes. The fuel gas enters the openings formed in the dip tubes and mingles or mixes with the industrialgas. The mixture then enters the chambers formed in the fitting and is fed to a cutting torch or the like. The second dip tubes are utilized when a plurality of cutting torches are placed in communication with the chamber.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures METHOD AND MEANS OF APPLYING ADDITIVES TO INDUSTRIAL GAS This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 295,133 filed Oct. 5, 1972, now abandoned.

Cutting torches are employed to cut metal plates or the like. The torches usually burn a mixture of fuel gas such as as propane or the like, oxygen and industrial gas. It is highly desirable to add additives to the mixture to achieve improved cutting efficiency. Many types of additives are utilized, one of such additives being manufactured and sold under the trademark Flamex. Previously it has been somewhat difficult to mix the additives with the fuel gas in an efficienty manner. l-Ieretofore, the additive andthe fuel gas were placed in a container and the container placed in communication with the cutting torch. This procedure requires a huge number of containers or tanks to be employed thereby increasing the inventory costs of such an operation.

Therefore, it is a principle object of this invention. to provide a method and means of applying additives to industrial gas.

A further object of this invention is to provide a method and means of applying additives to industrial gas which substantially reduces the inventory of tanks.

A further object of this invention is to provide a method and means of applying additives to industrial gas wherein the fuel gas is mixed with the additives in a container in communication with the cutting torch.

A further object of this invention is to provide a method and means of applying additives to industrial gas which may accommodate a plurality of cutting torches.

A further object of this invention is to provide a means for applying an additive to industrial gas including valve means to insure the efficient mixture thereof.

A further object of this invention isto provide a method and means of applying additives to industrial gas which is economical in manufacture.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of the means of this invention:

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the fitting and various components employed at the upper end of the container:

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view seen along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2:

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view seen along lines 4-4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view seen along lines 5-5 of FIG. 2.

In FIG. 1, the numeral refers generally to a conventional cutting torch for cutting metal objects. Cutting torch 10 has conduits l2 and 14 extending therefrom which are in communication with sources of oxygen and industrial gas respectively. The numeral 16 refers to a conduit which is in communication with the source of fuel gas such as propane or the like. A manually operated valve 18 is provided in the conduit 16 while a manually operated valve 20 is provided in the conduit 22 which extends from the torch 10 to a fitting generally designated by the reference numeral 24.

Fitting 24 is threadably mounted in the upper end of the container 26 having liquid additive provided therein generally designated by the reference numeral 30. Fitting 24 comprises a top plate 32 having a threaded collar 34 secured thereto and extending downwardly therefrom. A lower plate 36 is welded to the interior of the collar 34 above the lower end thereof as illustrated in FIG. 2.

A pipe 38 extends through the fitting 24 as seen in FIG. 2 and is in communication at its upper end with the conduit 16. Pipe 38 is provided with a valve seat 40 adjacent its lower end which is adapted to have a valve member 42 seat thereupon as illustrated in FIG. 3. Valve stem or rod 44 extends downwardly from the valve member 42 to a float generally designated by the reference numeral 46. The valve member 42 is normally maintained in the open position illustrated by dotted lines in FIG. 3 by the float 46. When the liquid level of the additive 30 lowers to a predetermined level within the container 26, valve member 42 seats upon valve seat 40 to close the interior of the pipe 38 so that the fuel gas cannot enter the interior of the container.

The numeral 48 refers generally to a dip tube having its upper end in communication with the chamber 50 in fitting 24 which is located between the plates 32 and 36. Dip tube 48 is provided with an upper opening 52 formed therein which is in communication with the interior of the container 26. Dip tube 48 is also provided with an opening 54 formed therein below the opening 52. The numeral 56 refers to a dip tube having its upper end in communication with the interior of compartment 50. An upper opening 58 is provided in the dip tube 56 which is in communication with the interior of the container 26. An opening 60 is also formed in the dip tube 48 below the opening 58. Dip tube 48 includes a poppet valve means 62 provided in its upper end. Valve means 62 comprises a cylindrical wall 64 having a tapered valve seat 66 at its upper end surrounding an opening 68. A valve seat 70 is provided at the upper end of bore 72 extending through the upper end of the dip tube 56. Valve ball 74 is adapted to seat upon the valve seat 70 or the valve seat 66 as illustrated in FIG. 5. The plurality of openings 76 extend through the wall member 64 to provide communication between the chamber 78 and the chamber 50.

In operation, the industrial gas additive 30 will have previously been placed in the container 26 with the fitting 24 then being installed on the container 26 so as to seal the open upper end thereof. Valves 18 and 20 are then opened to permit the fuel gas to pass into the container 26 and the mixture to pass therefrom to the torch 10 as will be described in more detail hereinafter. As previously stated, the .valve member 42 is normally open which permits the fuel gas to enter the interior of the container 26. The fuel gas exerts pressure on the additive 30 which causes the additive to rise upwardly through the dip tube 48. The additive tends to boil out of the opening 54 which causes the fumes thereof to mix with the fuel gas. The fuel gas also enters the interior of the dip tube 48 through the opening 52 and is mixed with the additive. The mixture passes upwardly through the upper end of the dip tube 48 into the chamber 50 and is passed to the cutting torch 10. The second dip tube 56 is provided for the situation wherein additional cutting torches are employed. The pressure differential in the chamber 50 would normally maintain the valve ball 74 in the closed position illustrated in FIG. 5 to prevent the fuel gas-additive mixture from entering the interior of the chamber 50 through the dip tube 56. If an additional cutting torch is opened, the pressure within chamber 50 will be less than the pressure within the upper end of the container 26 which will cause the valve ball 74 to move upwardly to the position illustrated by broken lines in FIG. 5. The fuel gasadditive mixture will then enter the interior of the chamber 50 through the openings 76 to provide the additional fuel gas-additive mixture for the additional cutting torch 10. Any given number of cutting torches may be employed with corresponding numbers of dip tubes 56 being employed to supply the additional fuel gasadditive volume that is necessary.

Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its states objectives.

I claim:

1. In combination,

a container having an open upper end,

an industrial gas additive in said container,

a fitting closing said open upper end and having a chamber formed therein,

a torch means,

a first conduit means in communication with said chamber and extending to said torch means,

a second conduit means in communication with the upper interior of said container and in communication with a fuel gas supply,

a first dip tube means having an open upper end in communication with said chamber and extending downwardly into said container, said first dip tube means having a plurality of vertically spaced openings formed the rein below its upper end in communication with the upper interior of said container,

at least a second dip tube means having its upper end in communication with said chamber and extending downwardly into said container, said second dip tube means having a plurality of vertically spaced openings formed therein below its upper end in communication with the upper interior of said container,

and a normally closed first valve means in said chamber mounted in the upper end of said second dip tube means, said first valve means being opened when the pressure in said second dip tube means sufficiently exceeds the pressure in said chamber.

2. The combination of claim l wherein a plurality of second dip tube means are mounted in said container and wherein a plurality of torches are in communication with said chamber.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said first valve means is a poppet valve.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein a valve means is mounted in said second conduit means, a float means in said container connected to said valve means for closing said valve means when the industrial gas addi' tive in said container is lowered to a predetermined level to prevent the fuel gas from entering said container. 

1. In combination, a container having an open upper end, an industrial gas additive in said container, a fitting closing said open upper end and having a chamber formed therein, a torch means, a first conduit means in communication with said chamber and extending to said torch means, a second conduit means in communication with the upper interior of said container and in communication with a fuel gas supply, a first dip tube means having an open upper end in communication with said chamber and extending downwardly into said container, said first dip tube means having a plurality of vertically spaced openings formed the rein below its upper end in communication with the upper interior of said container, at least a second dip tube means having its upper end in communication with said chamber and extending downwardly into said container, said second dip tube means having a plurality of vertically spaced openings formed therein below its upper end in communication with the upper interior of said container, and a normally closed first valve means in said chamber mounted in the upper end of said second dip tube means, said first valve means being opened when the pressure in said second dip tube means sufficiently exceeds the pressure in said chamber.
 1. In combination, a container having an open upper end, an industrial gas additive in said container, a fitting closing said open upper end and having a chamber formed therein, a torch means, a first conduit means in communication with said chamber and extending to said torch means, a second conduit means in communication with the upper interior of said container and in communication with a fuel gas supply, a first dip tube means having an open upper end in communication with said chamber and extending downwardly into said container, said first dip tube means having a plurality of vertically spaced openings formed the rein below its upper end in communication with the upper interior of said container, at least a second dip tube means having its upper end in communication with said chamber and extending downwardly into said container, said second dip tube means having a plurality of vertically spaced openings formed therein below its upper end in communication with the upper interior of said container, and a normally closed first valve means in said chamber mounted in the upper end of said second dip tube means, said first valve means being opened when the pressure in said second dip tube means sufficiently exceeds the pressure in said chamber.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein a plurality of second dip tube means are mounted in said container and wherein a plurality of torches are in communication with said chamber.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said first valve means is a poppet valve. 